Variable-speed friction-gearing.



PATENTED APR. 24, 1906.

E. P. COWLBS. VARIABLE SPEED PRIOTION GEARING.

APPLICATION FILED 00T. 4. 1902.

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E. P. COWLES.

VARIABLE SPEED PRICTION GEARING.

APPLICATION FILED 00T. 4, 1902.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Witness o PATENTED APR. 24, 1906.

E. P. COWLES.

VARIABLE SPEED ERICTION GEARING.

APPLICATION FILED 00124, 1902.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

ttouwif PATENTED APR. 24, 1906.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 4, 1902.

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c f m [4mm/f PATBNTED APR. 24, 1906.

E. P. COWLES. VARIABLE SPEED FRIGTION GEARING.

APPLICATION FILED 00T. 4, 1902,

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(g4/wanton No. 818,747. PATBNTED APR. 24, 1906. E. P. COWLES.

VARIABLE SPEED EMOTION GEARING.

APPLICATION FELBD 00T. 4. 1902.

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Specification of LettersiPatent.

p Patented April 24, 1906.

Application filed October 4, 1902. Serial No. 125.930.

.Tov all whom it may concern,.- Y

Be it known that I, EDWARD P. CowLEs, a

citizen of the United States, residing at Warren, in the county of Trumbull and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Variable-Speed Friction- Gearing, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to variable-s eed friction-transmission gears, and is es eclally adapted to motor-vehicles operated y nonreversing motors.

It has for its object the adaptation of m automatically traversing Y friction whee Patent No. 654,716, dated July 31, 1900, to friction transmissions, consisting of a disk having a friction-wheel traversing across its face on one side of the center for forward motion and on the opposite side of said center for reverse motion.

It consists, first, in means for. causing the friction-wheel to automatically follow the impulse to cause it to traverse from center to circumference of disk, or the reverse, on either side of the center, and remain stationary with respect to center of diskwhen this impulse is Withdrawn; second, means for shifting the oscillating pivot to cause the frictionwheel to traverse the same way on the opposite or backing side of disk; third, means for causing the friction-wheel to traverse automaltica ly across the dead-center of the dis i The inventionconsists, further, in various improvements in construction and arrangement of parts, and in specific devices for effecting the various movements, all of which will be fully described in the following specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in Which- Figure 1 is a-simplified back view to show plainer the automatically-traversing principle. Fig. 2 is a back view complete. Fig. 3 is a top view. Fig. 4 is a side view-with the right supporting-bracket removed. y Fig.` 5 is a front view of a portion of the guide-plate, showing tripping-cam.' Fig. 5a is a diagram showing the principle of automatically traversing across the dead-center. Figs. 6, 7, and 8 are diagrams showing how my automatically-.traversing friction can be adapted to every form of'friction drive. l Fig. 9 is a section on line AA, Fig. 3. Fi 10 is a view showing how my automatical y-traversin friction-wheel can be'applied in the form o a"caster-wheel. Fig. 11 is a side view of F1 10.

eferring-to the drawings, 12 indicates a' driven friction disk, preferably the balancewheel of the motor. Engaging frictionally with the face of disk 1-2 is a friction-wheel 13, having bearings in a ring-like sup ort 14. This support has its outer face parallel with face of disk 12 and is so arranged that a prolongation B of its axis passes through the center of the revolving plane of wheelA 13 and the point of contact of said wheel with disk 12. This support 14 bears against a similar ring-like suEport or block 16, a suitable ballbearing 15 eing interposed between the adjacent faces, so that said support 14 may revolve to a limited extent on block 16 like-a fifth-wheel. This ada ts friction-wheel 13 to be oscillated in its p ane of revolution on axis B perpendicular to face of disk 12 at the point of contact. Block 16 is provided with sleeves 17, which slide on'guide-bars 18 and serve to support it. These bars are placed parallel with face of disk 12 equally distant from'it one above the other and the same distance from the plane of the center of said disk, so that the pressure employed to maintain wheel 13 infrictional contact with disk 12 is equally distributed between said sleeves 17. To reduce' friction between the sleeves 17 and guide-bars 18, antifrictionrollers 19 are mounted on said sleeves to bear against bars 18 on the side from'which such ressure comes. Bars 18 are of suflic-ient ength to permit friction-wheel 13 to traverse the entire face of disk 12 on the diameterline C C, Fi .1. Said bars are su ported at their ends y brackets 20, one o which is shown in Fi 4; and these brackets are rovded with s eeves 21 21', arranged to s ide on bars 22, projecting from the motor-frame 23 on either side of disk 12 and having their axis perpendicular tothe kface of said disk.

The outer sleeves 21 extend over the ends of bars 22 andare each provided with a screw 24, which engages with a nut at the end of` bar 22 and serve to adjust bracket 20` and bars 18 and friction-wheel 13 in contact with disk 12.' The outer ends of screws 24 are connected by miter-gears 24 to a shaft-26, so that said bracket 20 and the guide-bars 18 ma be moved toward disk 12-parallel with its ace to take up wear. Shaft 26 is suitably connected to a hand-wheel conveniently accessible by the operator, so that the pressure.,

' desired.

of friction-wheel 13l against face of Adisk'12 can be adjusted at any time and regulated as In Fig. 41 sup-port- 14 is shown as provided with an arm27, to which is pivoted a rod 28, leading by suitable'connections to a lever convenient to t e operator.- If arm 27 is raised to oscillate wheel 13`into'the positionvshown' by broken linesD, it will obviously traverse toward the periphery of disk 12, following the broken spiral l1ne D', .gradually increasing in' speed'as it approaches said periphery..

ringwh'eel 13 into the position shown by broken linesE, it will traverse toward'the center ofthe disk, following the broken spiral line E', gradually .decreasmg'inspeed In the-above description it has .been assumed that the'wheel'13 was'at all times at the r-i ht,

ofthe center of disk 12, as represented in i 1, and-originally inthe ositlon shown in fu lines in'said figure. however, the'supports of said wheel were adjusted to bring them mto the positions indicated in dotte llinesin Fig. 1 vat the left ofthe center of disk 12, the effect of raising. and lowering arm 27 would be exactly the reverse of that above described-that is, `for a continuous movefment to'the left after passing thecenter, arm

27 Iwould have to be raised to jcontinue'the 'movement by reason of frictionwheel13`re- A. f volving 1n an opposite direction on the left side, and correspondinglyin traversing disk' 12 from left to-right. f

- .Itisv obvious thatwhen friction-wheel 13 reaches thepoint desired unless arm 27 were moved -back to bring therevolving plane of Jfriction-wheel 13 mathematically exact to a perpendicular with the radius of disk 12 49- passing .through the. point of entact,v it wouldfcreep slowly one way or the other.

l1isit"'would be diiiicult or impossible todo this, I overcome these objections by'employ-4 inig the means shown in Figs. 2, 3, and 4 for. a l

ustin the wheel'13 relative to the disk 12.. f

.In Sei@ centerzthereof. Referring to said figures, 29 indicates-a guide late secured at its ends to brackets -andp aoed a short distance away from frictionwheel 13, being. equally distant from and parallel with the guide-rods 18..

l `Gribbed toithe up er and 'lower edge lof this guide-plate andv siding freely thereon from end to end is a block 30. This block is providedwith` vertical guides 31, in which shdes upifanddown a plate 32.' Inthe 4center of. t

s plate. is-secured a stud 33, on which turns v an' antiriction-rollerl 34, Awhich travels in a slot or recess 35 in guide-plate 29. This slot 3 5 is of the form shown in Fig. 2, having an intermediate section that extends diagonally of the guide-plate 29 acrossthe center thereofand two oppositely-'extendingend sections situated, respectively, -abovej and below the If the arm 27 is depressed tol gures the friction-wheel 13 is shown v 1n pos1t1on to traverse the disk 12 towardthe horizontal planev oi the center oi said guideplate-that is, referri fto'Fi .12, the righthand end section35 o .said slot' `is situated above the Vhorizontal plane ofthe center of the'guide-plate 29 and the left-hand end sec- 'tion of the slot is situated below said center plane, both of said end sections of the slot extending parallel to the said central plane. It is obvious that as block 30 is moved along guidelate 29 at the right of the center thereof, rol er. 34 will travel in the slot-section 35' Aand the plate 32 --in the elevated position shownv in Fi s. 2 and 3. As blockl 30 passes the center o plate 29, the roller 34, followingi the diagonal part of slot 35, will force sai block down to the lower position-shown by broken ine 34' inFig. 2. As'said roller traverses the slot -section 35" theV block will be sustained in this lower position. In moving from left to right the above-described move- Ament-willl be reversed. ,Y .1 The vertical plate 32 is slotted orforked at i each end, as at 36 36', the outer'ends of the Jforks being bent out like the letter V,as shown in Figs. 2 and 5,. iProjecting''from the ring-sup ort 14 are two studs 37 37' 'diametrical y oppositeand equally distant from axis B and situated in the revolving plane of friction-wheel 13.. Said studs are provided jon their outer Aends with antifriction-rollers 3838', which extend into the slots 36 36 in i the vertical plate 32. The len th 'of plate 32 is such that .when one of sai rollers' is engaged by thel straight (part ofloneslot the' other roller is disengage and free to swing in IOO the flaring part ofthe other slot, as shown 1nv Fig. A2.l rod 39 ,jpivote'dzto block 30, leads by suitable connections to a lever conveniently located for the operator to handle, by lmeans of which the'block 30 can be moved along the guide-plate'29.

. In operation, assuming that friction-wheel 13 is contactin with the disk 12 at-the right ofthe center o said disk'and thatthevertiv cal plate 32 .is elevated, the upper fork'36 will be engaged with upper friction-roller 38 and'stud 37. .If the operator, -by means connected withl rod '39,v moves block. 30, it will have the eiect of oscillating ring 14 and'friction-wheel 13 about the axis B, stud 37 having the function of arm '27, as explained in connection with Fig. 1, the lower stud andfriction-roller'37' and 38' being free to swing in the laring in Fig. 2. If lock 30 is moved to the left, it will revolve ring 14 and friction-'wheel 13 into art of lower fork 36', as shown the position' shown by heavy lines in Fig. 2 or broken lines E, Fig. 1, and wheel 13 will traverse toward the center of disk 12'. vIi

block 30 is moved to the right, the wheel 13' will beturned into the position shown-by broken lines D, Fig, 1,` and will traverseto wardthe peripheryofdisk 1-2, aspreviously described, or, in. other-words, the -frictionwheel 13 will always follow thernovement of block v in either direction. It is obvious, from the direction of the motions of frictionwheel 13 and disk 12, that when block 30 ceases to move in either direction frictionwheel 13 will continue to traverse until its revolving plane is prpendicular to a radius of disk 12, passing t ough the point of contact,

swinging on stud 37 like a pendulum, as

tinues to engage the upper stud and roller-37 38, it would have the effect to turn frictionwheel 13 into a position that would cause it to traverse the disk 12 in direction o posite that of the movement of block 30, ans when Vthe movement of block 30 ceased it would have a tendency to turn around on stud 37, instead of swinging into a position erpendicul ar to a radius of disk 12, passing t ou'gh the point of contact of the fri ction-wheel with said disk. Therefore the stud 37 cannot be em loyed to oscillate the friction-wheel when sai wheel is in contact with the 'disk 12 at.

the left of the center of said disk.

-As hereinbefore explained, when block' 30 passes the center of disk 12, the diagonal part of slot 35, acting on roller 34, attached tocenter of vertical plate 32, forces this plate down, which causes the lower ,slot 36' to en'- gage roller 38 on lower stud 37 releasing the upper roller and stud 38 37 and leaving them free to swing in the larin part of upper fork of block 30 either way1 it across this dead'- center.

36. In other words, its fts the oscllatin pivot to the op osite side of riction-whee 13, as shown by broken line 34 in Fig. 2. It will be seen that in this position frictionwheel 13 will traverse the'disk 12. when on the left side of the center of said disk in the same manner as when it ison the right of said center-that is, following the movement and assuming a-perpendicular position w en block 30 ceases to move.

As friction-wheel 13 a proaches the center of disk 12 from either .irection it reaches a point where the motion is so sli ht that it-Will cease to traverse, and it woud require the application of great power to rod 39 to force To overcome this difficulty, I adopt means whereby the friction-wheel 13 can be moved vertically about one-half inch above or below its traversing line C C. In the present instance this is accomplished by interposing a fork 40 between the friction-wheel 13 and supportingring 14. Friction-wheel 13 has bearin s 41 in the ends of the arms of this fork, an the arms have ournals 42 about midway between these bearingsand the head of the fork, which journals turn in bearings 43 in the su porting-ring 14, permitting a limited osci lation offork 40 on an axis arallel with the axis of rictionwheel 13, w 'ch has the effect of shiftin the point of contact between friction-w eel 13 and'disk 12 about one-'half inch above or below the traversing line, as shown by brokenlines G G, Fig. 4. Thehead 40 o this fork is provided wlth two antifrictionrollers* 44 44 which travel, res ectively, on

the upper and lower sides o f a ri 45, rojecting from the front side of guide-p ate 29,

running -parallel with andin the same horiz'ontalplane with line of traverse C C. (Its office is to conne friction-wheel 13 to the line of traverse C C.) A portion of rib 45 near the center is cut away, leaving a ap 46 op osite the center of disk 12 of s cient wi th to permit either one of the rollers 44 .44 to drop into and allow fork 40 to cant and move friction-wheel 13 above -or below the center line C C.

In operation, when the friction-wheel 13 is contacting with the disk 12 at the right of the center of said disk the force transmitted.

by said disk to t'he'friction-wheel, as shown by arrows in Figs. '2 and 4, is down. This causes roller 44 `to'press up on the lunder side' of` rib 45, as is obvious. Whenlfrictionwheel 13 approaches. within' about one-halt inch of the center of disk 12, roller 44 will be under gap 46 and free to rise u and allow fork 40 to cant, and wheel 13 wi be carried -by friction with disk 12 around' the under.

half-circle H, Fig; 5, to the left side of disk 12 and its motion reversed, roller 44 running down 'on the beveled end 46 of rib 45 to the under side of said rib.

When the friction-wheel 13 is at the left of the center of diskA 12, the force imparted to it by said disk 12 is up land when .the` wheel approaches the center of the disk it will be carried around the u per half-circle J, Fig. 5, to the right side.

o make this movement positive and certain, I arrange within the gap 46A an adjustable block 47,, projecting from a cam-plate 48, working in: a recess in guideplate 29 and pivoted at 49, its periphery'flush l with the upper edge of guideplate 29 and provided with two projections 50 50',- which re 'ster with a tappet-piece 51 on'block 3 0.

- en friction-wheel l13 is traversing on either side of the center of disk 12, projections 50 50 are disengaged from tappet-piece 51, leaving cam-plate48 tilted tel one side or the other with that one of thev projections 50 50', which is on the side toward block 30,

.flush with the upper edge of guide-plate 29, Ii

and the other projecting above said plate, as shown in Figs. 2 and 5. It is frictionally encumbered'to prevent its movement from this A position by- {arringor other cause. When iction-Whee 13 approaches the center from the right, tappet-piece 5 1 engages projection 5 `and turns cam-plate' 48 into the position shown in Fi 5 block 47 filling gap 46, which prevents rol er 44 from entering said gap and l but so slowly that the motion imparted to. the running-gear is negligible and for short carried over on upper-half-circ'le J stopswhere it is desirab e to let the motor continue running the movement of the f vehicle 4would be soslight that it wouldnot ,be a

source of inconvenience." A further movement of block to the left turns cam-plate 48, and block 47 raises roller 44., canting fork and lowering friction-wheel 13', moving its 1point of contact' with disk 12..down thebro en line N, Fig. 5a, into thelower half of circle H', Fig. 5a', from which position itis instantly carried around to the leftl side of center of disk 1'2, as hereinbefore explained.- -InV moving from left to rightthe same operation takes place, except that friction-wheel 13 is It will be seen'from the foregoing that a very'slight impulse applied to ro 39 in either direction vwill cause t e friction-.wheel 13 to traverse from center to circumference of disk 12, or l.vice versa, ori-either side, across thev dead-center, 'change' the' speed, 'and reverse automatically without releasing its pressure or sliding on. the disk, and when it is doing its -I -heaviest work, as Well as when 'running light,

l.iswithdrawn'V I preferably connectfriction-wheel 13-to.

`always following the movement of block 3 0,

righting up perpendicular. and remaining stationary in any position when this impulse I- the running-gear by -an extensible shaft 152,

around-it like pinion-wire, and the tubular part-having a sleeve 53, onthe inside of which a corresponding number of teeth'are formed traverses'the face of to engage wi'thth'oseon part 54. yThis sleeve .is `of considerable length, preferably from eight to twelveinches, and part '54' has six- `teen,teeth, one-eighth inch deep, so there 'are always in contact from sixteen to twenty-four square inches of wearin surface. This makes this -shaft,fas regar s rotation, 'practically'a-solid shaft and in regard to wear practically indestructible. 'Another important advantage gained by this construction is thatthe Wearing-surface is perpendicular tothe direction ofthe rotating force,- so that there -isnof cramping or-binding, andthe as friction-wheel 13A parts will slide easily isk 12 under the greatest strain. A., light metal tube 55,' attached -on sleeve 53 and excludes dust.

to a collar 56 on part 54 'has a close slidingii-t Shaft 52 is connected to axle of'friction-wheel 1 3 by a universal joint 57. This joint can been the outside, as shown in Fig. 3, or vfriction-Wheel 13 can have .a hollowhub, as shown at 58in Fi s. 10' and 11, with itstubular ends journa ed in the fork-bearings 41 'and the universal joint placed inside with its gyrating point in the rotatin plane of friction-wheel 13. In this position te oscillation of wheel 13 would not affectit, and shaft 5 2 could be made of sufficient stiffness (by 'giving' sleeve 53v greater length) to withstand the effort of turning the driving-wheels and dispense with a universal joint at the driving-axle end of shaft 52. f

I preferably 'set the 'mechanism at an angle prolonged to intersect .the axis axle tomatically-traversing friction-wheel can be .by causing the traveling lines atpoint of contact to vary-from tan ent or parallel to each ter ofone, as at' K K, its line of travel at point o f 'contact'will vary from tan ent tothe other, as shown by broken lines K', and it will wheel 13, journaled'in the lends' of its arms 61, adapting it to oscillate on stud 59 like a 18 either way', wheel 13 will swing into posi.- tions shown by broken lines L L and traverse 17. When the movement of-block17 ceases,

orit can have ashaft v62 passing entirely through hub. '58 andpermanently journaled 5 3 would be placed inside of hollow hub 5'8 stantiall the same as my patent universal joints, o. 317,737-, Meyn, .1885.

there are no .intermediate clutches or disconunectingI devices of anysort between propelfrom horizontal to cause traversing line CC" drivingat the apex.4 vBy'raising or lowering the` centraverse to lor 'from the center of the other.V

been herein described. Fig. 8'shows a cone pendulum. If 'block 17 is moved along rodsto or from center of disk 12, following block wheel 1 3 will swing into position shown by' 'fulllines and remainl so until block 1 7' is moved again. Wheel 1 3 can be connected to' 'running-gear by a shaft similarto 52, Fig.- 3

and be connected to it by universal oint sub- A Diagram Figs.- 6, 7, and 8 show' how my auapplied to any form of friction transmission ically-traversing vfriction-wheel can be used 1o 5 on which is pivoted a fork 60, with friction- IIO vin brackets 20', as shown. In this case sleeve n win beobserved @infraction-@661113 e is never disconnected from the motor, and

ling-wheels and motors. For this reason no brake is required. The friction-wheel traversing toward'center Vof disk eiectually checks and controls vthe speed of the vehicle. All the functions of regulating the speed, brak,- ing, practically stopping, reversing, &c., are performed without coupling or uncoupling any part or'disconnecting the motor from the propelling-wheels in any manner and without slipping friction-wheel 13 on face of disk 12.

In oing down inclines, checking the speed, &c., t e momentum of the vehicle is thrown on the motor, power being transmitted from the runningear to the motor. The friction of the motor as such a great leverage on this power when transmitted in this direction that it is practically neutralized when, friction-wheel 13 is near the center of disk 12; but when it is near the periphery it mightincrease the speed of the motor ,beyond-a safe limit. To obviate this, I would use an automatic balance-wheel brake, substantially asJ shown in my application, explosive-engines, Serial No. 118,002.

Preferably I would place supporting-rollers 63, Fig. 4, bearing against the side of disk 12, opposite the traversmg-line C C on each side ofthe center near the periphery, of large diameter, with bearings in the motor-frame l23, to counteract the pressure of frictionwheel 13 and relieve the shaft of disk 12 from all strains caused by such pressure.

It will be evident that many changes in the details of construction and arrangement of the apparatus hereinbefore described can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention. Thus, for instance, other means of mounting the friction-wheel so thatits lane of movement may be adjusted angular y and the point of contact shifted may be substituted for those shown. Equivalent devices may be substituted for shifting the oscillating pivots from one side to the other, and other forms of su port for movement parallel with face of isk and adjusting pressure may be introduced in place of those shown. I intend in the broader claims of this specification to cover all such equivalent devices and in the more specific claims to cover the particular devices illustrated and described yand which atthe present time seem to be the best embodiment of the invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent is- 1]. In a variable-speed friction-gearing, the combination of a rotatable disk, a friction- Wheel engagin 'said disk, and means for adjusting sai w eel to cause it to automatically traverse said disk on opposite sides of the center thereof.

2. In a variable-speed friction-gearing, the combination of a rotatable disk, a frictionof said centerto va wheel engaging said disk, means for chan in the relative positions of said disk and w ee to cause the latter to engage the disk at points on opposite sides of its center, and means for adjustin the wheel angularly vto cause it to automatically traverse either section of the disk from the center to the circumference or vice versa. 3. In a variable-speed friction-gearing, the combination of a rotatable disk, a frictionwheel arranged to engage said disk,v means for-adjusting the wheel across the center of the disk, and means for adjusting the wheel angularly to cause it to automatically traverse the disk on either side of the center thereof.

4. In a-variable-speed friction-gearing, the combination' of a rotatable disk, a frictionwheel engaging said disk, a shaft connected to said wheel, means for shiftin the point of contact ofsaid wheel and disk om one side of the center of said disk to the opposite side the direction of rotation of the shaft, an means for causin the wheel to automatically traverse the dis on either side of its center to vary the speed of the shaft.

5. In a friction-gearing for motor-vehicles,

the combination of a rotatable disk, a friction-wheel constantly enga ing said disk,

means for driving thevehic e permanently connectedwith said parts, and means for shifting the point of contact between said wheel and .disk from one side ofthe center of said diskl to the opposite side of said center and for causing said wheel to automatically traverse said disk, on either side of its center, from the center to the periphery of said disk, whereby thedirection of movement of the vehicle can be reversed and the speed of such movement in either direction varied IQO without disconnecting the disk and frictionwheel or disconnecting the means for driving the vehicle from said parts.

6. In a variable-speed friction-gearing for motor-vehicles, the combination ofvtwo frictionally-engaged members, means permanently connecting one of said members with a motor, a power-transmitting shaft perinanentl connected with the` other of said mem ers, and means for adjustiii the friction member connected with sai shaft to cause it to automatically vary its position relative to the other member to change the direction of movement of saidshaft or its speed in either direction.

7. In a variable-speed friction-gearin the combination of a rotatable disk, a whee frictionally engaging said disk, a support for said Wheel mounted to move transversely across the engaged face of the disk and to oscillate about an axis extendinrT at right angles to said disk, whereby the lfriction-wheel will be adjusted to follow the lateral movement of its support without sliding on the IIO friction-wheel passes from one side ofthe center of the rotatabledisk to the -other side .of said center. l A l 1 9 8. In a variable-speed friction-gearing, the

combination of a rotatable disk, a rictionf wheel engaging said disk and normally ex' tending perpendicular to a radius ofthe disk passing through .thepoint of-contac't of the wheel therewith, a sup ort` for said v-wheel A'permitting oscillation t ereof to adjust it into position to automatically traverse the disk, toward or from the center'thereof, two

studs connected with said su port Vand situzc ated on,v op osite sides of tIhe axis about which the W eel oscillates, and means adapted to engage said studs and move said su port transversely of therotatabledisk, t' e parts being so arranged that when'the said support is moved laterally of 4the disk the friction-wheel is oscillated and travels -i'reely over the disk andwhen such movement of its support ceases rocks about the engaged' stud as a pivot linto its -normal position per.- pendicular toa radius of the disk passing through the point of contact of the wheel an disk, the means for .moving said supporten gagin said studs alternately.

9. n a variable-speed friction-gearing, the v combination of a rotatable disk, .a frictionwheel en a ing said disk, a support for said wheel inc u ing two members havin parallel .faces, anda series vof;antifrictionalls ar. ranged between said parallel faces, whereby the memberconnected with the-wheel can of said support, and means for movingsaid support and wheel transversely ofthe d1sk.`

10. In a variable-speed friction-gearing,

the combination of a rotatable disk, a friction-wheel engaging said disk, a support for said wheel, means for adjusting said `wheel relative to the disk to compensate for wear,- and means for moving said support and wheel connected to said support'to oscillatejabout" an axis at right angles to the path of move# 6o ment of the support across 'the disk, and

means for sliding. said support on its guides.v

12. 'In a variable-speed friction-gearin the vcombination of a rotatable-disk, a whee support adapted to move transversely of said disk, a friction-wheelmounted `on said suped to osci 'being' adapte oscillate slightly relative to the other memberv port, to engage the rotatable disk and adapta-te about an axis-1 extending atm right vangles to said disk, .two studs projecting. from the wheel-support and arranged on opposite sides of the axis of oscillation of said 7-.0 wheel, -a relatively stationary guide extending across the center-of` the disk'betwe'en said studs,- a plate mountedto moveboth longitu.-

dinally and transversely of said 'de and; ada ted when moved longitudinal gui e to engage one of the studs ont e wheel# support to oscillate the friction-wheel 4and adjust it and'` its Vsupport transversely of the .rotatable disk, and means for automatically moving said plate transversely of'said guide, 8o .v lto release the previously-engaged stud of the wheel-support and .engage the other of said studs,'as the friction-wheel passes the center ofthedisk. l 13. vv In a 'variable-speed frction-gearin ,"85 the combination of a rotatable disk, a whee support adapted to move transversely of said' disk, a friction-'wheel mounted. on sad sup. portl to en age the rotatable disk and adapt'- ed to l osci late aboutan axis extending at 9of right vangles to said disk, two studs projecting from the wheel-support and arranged on op' posite sides of the' axis lof oscillation of said wheel,a guide extendingbetween'said studs and projectin on opposite sides. of the center 9 5l of the rotatab e disk,said guidehaving formed in one.A facel two oppositely-extending, unalined, Ways .or grooves connected at their i11- ner ends, substantially in line with the center ofthe rotatable disk, .by a shorter,.diagonally 100 extending, groove, a platemounted to move both "lon itudinally andtransverselyof said guide an having a roller adapted to travel in saidways or rooves, the ends. of said plate d to :engage fsaidistuds on the wheel-support and said. platebeing of such length that it engages said studs alternately as vitis moved transversely of its support, and means for moving said plate on said support.

. 1 4. Iiia variable-speedl friction-gearing,` 11o p the combination of arotatable disk, a frlction-wheel engaging said disk, means for ad- .justingfthe wheel transversely of the disk, and meansv for automatically rockingV the v wheel about an axis parallel to its axis'of revolution as it approaches thel center of the 'dish-whereby it willautomatically pass said center.v Y 1 15. In a variable-speedfriction-@gearin the combination of arotatab'le disk, a Whee 12b 'support adapted to move transversely of said disk, a friction-wheel mounted on said support to rock about an axis parallel to its 4axis of revolution, an'arm connected with said wheel, means for'moving the wheel-support 125 transversely of the disk, and means for auto-A matically rockingsaid arm and wheel as the latter .approaches the center of the disk.

1 6. In .a variable speed friction gearin the combination of a rotatable disk, a whee I 3o support adapted to move transversely of said disk, a friction-wheel engaging the disk and connected to said support to rock about` an axis parallel to its axis of revolution, a relatively stationary guide extending 'across the center of the disk, rollers connected with the friction-wheel and contacting with opposite sides of said guide and means for moving the wheel-support transversely of the disk, said guide having a gap or opening formed therein near its middle, whereby the wheel will be caused to automatically rock about the axis of its connection to said support as the rollers connected thereto come into alinement with the ga in said guide. 17. n a variable-speed friction-gearing, the combination of a rotatable disk, a wheelsup ort ada ted to move transversely of sai disk, a iction-wheel engaging the disk and connected to said support to rock about an axis parallel to its ax1s of revolution, a relatively stationary guide extending across the center of the disk and havin a gap or opening in alinement with said disk-center, rollers connected with the friction-wheel and contacting with opposite sides of said guide, means for moving the wheel-support transversely of the disk, a pivoted stop for closing the gap in said guide, and means connected with said stop and extending into the path of movement of the Wheel-y sup ort, whereby saidstop may be automatical y adjusted to permit the wheel to rock about an axis paralel to its axis of revolution as it approaches the center of the disk. 18, In a variable-speed friction-gearing, the combination of a rotatabledisk, a friction-wheel engaging said disk, means for adjusting said wheel to cause it to automatically traverse said disk toward or from the center thereof, and means for causing said vhlel to automatically pass the center of the 19. In a variable-speed friction-gearing, the combination of a rotatable disk, a friction-wheel engaging said disk, means for causing saidwheeltotraverse the disk, and means for shifting the point of contact of the wheel and disk, as the wheel approaches the center of the disk, from the plane including the axis of the disk and the points at which the wheel contacts with the disk in traversing the latter, whereby the wheel will be automatically carried around the center of the disk.

20. In a variable speed friction ocaring, the combination of two rotatable, flictionally-engaged, elements, lmeans for adjusting one of said elements transversely of the other while engaged therewith, the point of contact between said elements following, during such traversing, a straight line extending through the center of the relatively stationary element, and means for moving the point of `contact between said elements from said line as it approaches the centerof the relatively stationary element, to cause such traversing element to automatically pass said oneI of said elements transversely of the other while engaged therewith, the point of contact between said elements following, durlng such traversing, a horizontal lineextending through the center of the relatively stationary element, and means for shifting the said point of contact vertically relativerto said line, as thel traversing element approaches the center of the other element whereby the traversing element will automatically pass said center.

22. In a variable-speed frictionearing, the combination of two rotatable,4 'ctionally-engaged, elements, means for causing one of said elements to move transversely of the other while engaged therewith, the point of contact between said elements following, during such traversing, a straight line that extends through the center of the relativelyV stationary element, and means for bodily moving the traversing element as it approaehes the center of the relatively stationary element to shift the point of contact between the elements from said straight line, for the purpose specified.

23. In a variable-speed friction-gearing, the combination of two frictionally-engaged members, means for driving one of said members, means for adjusting the other friction member to cause it to automatically traverse the driven member to vary its speed, and an extensible power transmitting shaft connected to the adjustable friction member.

24. In a variable speed frietiongearing, the combination of two frictionally-engaged members, means for driving one of said members, a longitudinally-extensible power-transmitting shaft connected to the other friction member by a universal joint, and means for adjusting the last said member to cause it to automatically traverse the driven member and vary the speed of the transmitting-shaft. 25. In a variable speed friction gearing, the combination of two frictionally-engaged members, means for driving one of said members, a power-transmitting shaft, consistin of two freely-telescoping sections, connecte to the other friction member, and means for adjusting the last said member to cause it to 'automatically traverse the dlivenifriction member to vary the speed of the transmitting-shaft.

26. In a variable-speed friction-gearing, the combination of two frictionally-engaged members, means for driving one of said members, a power-transmitting shaft connected to the other friction member and consisting of two freely-telescoping sections, one having a series of longitudinally-extending periph- TOO IIO

Q8' i l i 818,74?

feral ribs aild the other having a corresipond- I. In testimonyWhereof-I affix my signature j ing series of longitudinally-extending grooves' Vin presence of t'Wo Witnesses. l

into which the ribs on the other sectionex- A EDWARD' P ICOWLES;

' tend,v and mean's for adjusting the friction member connectedlto said shaft transversely Witiissesi I of the other friction member Vto vry the JOHN M. STULL,

v speed ofthe transmittiiigeshaft. A. S. lHELPs. 

